A MEAT processing firm planning to axe more than 200 workers has been urged to look at grant assistance in a bid to save some jobs.

Staff at Welsh Country Foods in Gaerwen, Anglesey, were told on Tuesday that around 200 jobs were “at risk” among the plant’s 444-strong workforce.

The factory, owned by Dutch firm Vion, said the cutbacks were needed because of declining demand for lamb.

Part of the restructuring involves moving the retail packing operation to Winsford, Cheshire.

Yesterday deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones met bosses to see what assistance the Assembly Government could provide to save jobs.

He said: “This is a difficult situation because the decision is based on market demand which we cannot affect. What we have done is show that support is available from the Welsh Assembly Government. We are particularly targeting those jobs at risk of being transferred.

“We understand this is being made on financial grounds. We want to see if there is assistance we can offer to change this.

“We will now meet next week to take this further. We do not want to raise false hopes though.”